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"The Emperor likes to watch people plant flowers and see the scenery."
"Oh? Isn't that very similar to uncle's interests? "
"He is very lazy. He just wants to look. Who would dare to let him personally do it?"
"I heard that Haitang likes to be close to the fields?"
There was an awkward silence.
"The Emperor … is a very interesting person."
"The Emperor actually often does many interesting things. However, ever since he was young, mother pulled him up by the ear to learn the ways of governing a country. We rarely get to see him."
In the Flower Hall, the Great wangfei's faint smiling voice rang out occasionally. Fan Xian stood outside the door and listened quietly. He knew that what this woman said was not false. A dozen years ago, there had been an upheaval in the Northern Qi royal family. No one knew how many nobles had been involved, including Lady Shen's father, Shen Zhong, who was now hiding in the Yan manor. Back then, it was because of this matter that he had made a name for himself.
The Northern Qi empress dowager only had one son, the current Northern Qi Emperor. The other princesses were all born to the previous Northern Qi Emperor's concubines. Although the Great Princess who had married into the Qing Kingdom was respected by the empress dowager and the Emperor, she was, after all, not their own. There was always some distance between them. Furthermore, after experiencing the tragic experience of trying to survive while holding her son, the Northern Qi empress dowager was wary of other children of the royal family.
The people of the Qing Kingdom were all curious about the Northern Qi Emperor. At this moment, they asked questions endlessly. However, the wangfei could not give any details. She only vaguely said it was interesting and interesting.
Ye Ling 'er saw him eavesdropping outside the door and glanced at him curiously.
Fan Xian smiled and pushed open the door to enter.
The Great wangfei, who had been frowning and troubled, saw the two of them enter. She let out a breath and said, "It's best if you don't ask me. I really can't figure out our Emperor. Usually, I can't be bothered to see him in the Palace. When he was young, the empress dowager watched him very closely. When he grew up, he was busy with national affairs. On the other hand, Fan Xian has traveled with the Emperor many times in Northern Qi. The Emperor has always liked him very much. If you want to ask about something interesting, why don't you ask him?"
At that moment, Fan Xian and Ye Ling 'er returned to their seats. Ye Ling' er moved closer to Lin Wan 'er, her face agitated. In a low voice, she spoke of how much she missed Lin Wan' er. She paid no attention to what the others were saying. Fan Xian and the Second Prince looked at each other and smiled helplessly. They did not notice that someone had mentioned their names.
Hearing the Great wangfei's words, everyone remembered that other than wangfei, the only other person at the banquet who had seen the Northern Qi Emperor was Fan Xian. Everyone knew that the Emperor thought very highly of Fan Xian's poetic talent.
The crown prince, Li Hongcheng, gave a hiccup and looked at Fan Xian. "An Zhi, just what kind of person is the Northern Qi Emperor?"
Fan Xian paused and came to his senses. "The ruler of a country is not someone I, a foreign official, can discuss."
Only after these words were said did everyone in the hall feel awkward. In front of the Great wangfei, it was indeed not appropriate to rashly discuss the gossip of the Northern Qi Emperor. However, the curiosity of humans was always hard to suppress. Everyone, including the Second Prince, urged Fan Xian to say a few more words.
Fan Xian scratched his head and asked, "Why are you so interested in the Northern Qi Emperor?"
The men in the reception hall suddenly became silent, their faces revealing embarrassment. Only the three girls were whispering to each other, like ants gnawing on leaves.
The Great wangfei smiled and shook her head. Lifting the hem of her dress slightly, she left the Flower Hall with a tranquil expression. She said she was going to see how the arrangements for the lunch banquet were going.
Given wangfei's status, there was no need for her to personally worry about such chores. Without question, she wanted to give these members of the Qing Kingdom's royal family a convenient place to speak. As expected, after wangfei walked far into the Flower Hall, the Great Prince shook his head and said, "We have to pay attention. The Northern Qi Emperor has always been mysterious and ruthless. Neither the Overwatch Council nor the military reports have any detailed descriptions. His temperament, hobbies, and joy and anger are like a mystery."
"So what? As an Emperor, he has to maintain his mystery in front of his people, "Fan Xian replied with a smile.
The Great Prince said seriously, "But, he is the ruler of a foreign country. The more mysterious he is in front of us, the more terrifying he is."
Fan Xian furrowed his brows and said, "He is just a young man. How can he be so terrifying?" When he had first met the Northern Qi Emperor in Shangjing, he had thought he was a young man about the same age as him. After he returned to the country, he carefully examined the reports and found that this Emperor was actually two years younger than him.
When he was in Jiangnan, every time he thought of the Northern Qi Emperor's deep and far-sighted plans and how he had used the treasury's silver to participate in the Qing Kingdom's internal affairs without batting an eyelid, Fan Xian's heart palpitated. However, this matter involved his greatest secret, so he did not dare speak of it in the Flower Hall.
The Second Prince put down the fruit in his hand and sighed. "Terrifying has nothing to do with age." He glanced at Fan Xian, meaning to say that when he first entered Jingdou, he was only a 16 or 17 youth, yet, he was terrifying. Shortly after, he smiled slightly and said, "You should know about the matter of Shen Zhong of the Northern Qi Brocade Guard. In the end, Wei Hua became the commander. Shen Zhong died a wretched death, but the little Emperor waved his hand and turned the entire matter around. He trapped Shang Shanhu in Jingdou and could not leave. He also successfully took over the power of the Empress Dowager's side. Wei Hua doesn't even listen to the empress dowager's wishes anymore. Imperial Advisor Ku He also maintains his silence. Such a young Emperor, where did he get such deep shrewdness? How was he able to convince so many people to stand on his side? "
The Second Prince's tone became heavier. "If the battle between the Emperor and Empress of Northern Qi develops into a fierce situation, then it will be a blessing for the Qing Kingdom. We had originally thought that when the Emperor took over the government, he would not be able to compare to the Northern Qi empress dowager who had been in power for a long time. In the end, given the young people's violent temperament, I'm afraid that the Northern Qi court would fall into chaos. Who would have thought that this little Emperor would quietly take back power in his hands? This kind of method is truly … terrifying."
Fan Xian fell silent. He was very clear about the inside story of Shen Zhong's death. He had even suggested this matter to the Northern Qi Emperor through Haitang's mouth.
The atmosphere in the Flower Hall was slightly tense. The three girls knew that the men were talking about national affairs, so they tactfully kept their mouths shut.
The Crown Prince, Li Hongcheng, no longer had any excess drunkenness in his eyes. He furrowed his brows and said, "The Northern Qi Emperor is the ruler of a country. He does not like women, nor does he have any bad habits. He is clear-headed and self-controlled. This kind of person is the most terrifying. In the future, if the Qing Kingdom wants to send an army North, the first thing to consider is not the strength of Northern Qi, but the nature of the ruler of Northern Qi. If the Northern Qi Emperor does not fall into chaos, there is nothing we can do on our side. "
After these words were said, the Great Prince and the Second Prince both nodded.
Fan Xian's heart jumped slightly. Looking at this scene, he felt astonished. He was shocked by the serious expressions of the three royal disciples. For a moment, he couldn't speak. Only now did he understand that for him, Northern Qi was only a partner. For the nobility of the younger generation of the Qing Kingdom, Northern Qi was destined to be flattened and swallowed up by the Qing court.
The Qing Kingdom loved martial arts. The people of the previous generation had already conquered a large piece of land. What was left to the people of the new generation was the large but not rigid Northern Qi. This was a fanaticism that was deeply rooted in the blood. Regardless of whether it was the Great Prince or Li Hongcheng, neither could shake off this fanaticism. Even a gentle and solemn character like the Second Prince could not forget attacking Northern Qi.
The Qing Kingdom was powerful and had maintained the momentum of attack for 30 years. For the people of the Qing Kingdom, this was no longer a problem to consider. The only thing they needed to consider was when to attack Northern Qi. So, what kind of person the Northern Qi Emperor was was a very important matter for the three royal disciples in the hall.
Looking at the Second Prince's thoughtful expression, it was clear that to be able to unify the world was the ultimate goal of the Qing Kingdom. It could even temporarily suppress his anxiety about the dragon chair.
"Everyone says that the Northern Qi Emperor does not like women, but last time, he specifically wanted to swap Si Lili back to Northern Qi. An Zhi, you were the envoy last time. Did you discover any details in Shangjing?" the Great Prince asked seriously.
Fan Xian slowly said after a moment, "It is true that he does not like women. In the vast Royal Palace, there are only a few secondary concubines. In order to prevent the power of the extended relatives from growing, the young Emperor forcefully resisted the pressure of the large families in Shangjing. The concubines he chose were all commoners. Strangely, the empress dowager did not seem to oppose this arrangement."
The Second Prince furrowed his brows and said, "Even if it is to prevent the power of the extended relatives from growing, this kind of arrangement is not a good idea to appease the officials. It is not appropriate."
Fan Xian nodded and pretended to be worried. "Just as wangfei said earlier, the Emperor is truly difficult to see through. He is clearly right in front of you, but I always feel that there is a very clever disguise on him."
Li Hongcheng laughed. "Come on, the Emperor has been very honest with you. Earlier, you said you were a foreign official. I don't think the Northern Qi people see you as a foreign official. Otherwise, after the assassination, why would they send a letter of credence to Jingdou to protest?"
The Great Prince shook his head angrily. "The Northern Qi people have bullied me too much. They actually played such a trick."
Fan Xian smiled bitterly. "Your Highness, this matter has nothing to do with me."
Speaking of the assassination, the Second Prince was not at all embarrassed. With a selfless and open-minded appearance, he teased Fan Xian. "Of course, this matter has nothing to do with you. Putting aside the fact that you are a Qing person, Northern Qi only wants to provoke you. Even if the little Emperor likes you and pulls you to Northern Qi, would he marry his sister to you?"
At this moment, Ye Ling 'er interrupted, "I think that might be the case. Fan Xian was born with a good appearance, and the Northern Qi Emperor is a fanatic of him."
With these words, the serious discussion became a joke.
Fan Xian's lips curled into a smile and he calmly watched the conversation between the men and women. They talked about interesting things in the Palace. Fan Xian didn't know much about them. Gradually, he had the illusion of being excluded from the atmosphere. Speaking of which, before he entered Jingdou, the men and women in the Flower Hall had watched each other grow up. The relationship between the younger generation of the Qing royal family had always been good. He had always been an outsider.
However, Fan Xian did not immerse himself too much in these emotions. Because of the discussion earlier about the Northern Qi Emperor, he sank deep into thought. He faintly felt that he was about to catch onto something mysterious.
In his mind, he went through the circumstances of his meeting with the Northern Qi Emperor in Shangjing in detail. He then carefully reviewed the year and a half, the tacit cooperation between him and the Northern Qi Emperor. Complemented by the Northern Qi Emperor's aesthetic tastes and the little details of his life, a light gradually almost rushed out of his mind.
However, it couldn't rush out.
Fan Xian was still in a daze amidst the faint fragrance. The people beside him had all quieted down and looked at him, but he still hadn't noticed.
Fan Xian abruptly realized he had lost composure. He smiled awkwardly and unconsciously said, "Smells so good."
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Smells so good!
A faint fragrance filled the Flower Hall. Fan Xian was slightly dazed, and it was as if there was some kind of magic at the tip of his nose that made him dazed again. This fragrance was actually very light and elegant, but for him, it was very rich, and it was so shocking!
Turning his head, he saw that the Great wangfei had long returned. She had already changed clothes. Fan Xian forced a smile and asked, "Where did the fragrance come from?"
The Great wangfei was slightly surprised. Shortly after, she smiled. "I didn't think that not only are you exceptionally intelligent, but your mind and nose are also so exquisite. I've worn this fragrance bag for a year, and the Prince has never smelled it. Today, I've just put it on, and you smelled it."
Everyone looked at Fan Xian curiously. Ye Ling 'er sniffed but didn't smell any special fragrance. It was just that the incense burning in the Flower Hall was swept by the cold wind on the lake. It was very faint.
"Isn't it incense?" Ye Ling 'er asked curiously.
Wangfei smiled and said, "Of course it isn't incense." She took out a small and exquisite fragrance bag from her waist and said, "I brought it from Shangjing."
Fan Xian had a strong urge to hold the fragrance bag in his hand and sniff it carefully. However, the fragrance bag was something a woman wore close to her body. It had a deep meaning. No matter what, he could not make such a request.
Hearing wangfei's words, his expression had already calmed. He smiled and said, "They've never been to Northern Qi, so they can't smell this faint fragrance. I've been there. No wonder I can smell it."
Wangfei smiled and shook her head. "I bet you've also never smelled it. You've been to the Royal Palace in Shangjing. Have you been to the back of the mountain?"
Fan Xian nodded.
Wangfei said, "What's in this fragrance bag is a golden osmanthus flower. The golden osmanthus flower is on the mountain. There should only be one in the entire world. This golden osmanthus flower's fragrance is very faint. If one didn't pay attention, one wouldn't be able to smell it no matter what."
Fan Xian smiled and said, "When I went up the mountain, I only stayed for a short while in the pavilion by the stream. I didn't see this rare golden osmanthus flower."
"It grows on the summit of the mountain," the Great wangfei smiled and said. "It's an isolated species that the Imperial Advisor personally transplanted from the Northern lands. Additionally, the fragrance isn't very strong, so no one has ever collected its stamen and used it as a fragrance bag. Thus, I dare to say that even if Sir Fan junior had stayed in the Palace, you still wouldn't have smelled it."
Fan Xian asked in surprise, "Then, wangfei, your fragrance bag …"
Everyone was a bit confused. Why was Fan Xian constantly thinking about this fragrance bag and constantly asking about it? Fan Xian was also afraid of giving himself away, so he smiled and explained, "I like this fragrance. I want to give one to Wan 'er."
Lin Wan 'er smiled slightly. She knew that her husband was certainly not thinking like this. However, the bystanders did not understand. The Great Imperial Prince said disapprovingly, "How can a man put his mind on these women's matters?"
The Great wangfei glared at him and said, "To be able to mount a horse and embroider flowers, that is a true, true man."
The Great Prince immediately closed his mouth.
The Great wangfei turned toward Fan Xian and smiled. "I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to give one to Princess Chen … no, it may not be easy for other people, but you have the chance … write a letter to the Emperor and ask for it."
This Emperor was the Emperor of Northern Qi.
Fan Xian smiled warmly and said, "Was the one on Princess's body also bestowed by the Emperor of your country?"
"Yes." A trace of homesickness appeared in wangfei's eyes. She lightly said, "In the past, in Shangjing, only the Emperor wore a fragrance bag with golden osmanthus flowers. He said he liked this kind of light and refreshing smell. The night before I left the capital, the Emperor bestowed the fragrance bag he always carried on his body to me so that I could remember the taste of my homeland in the South. "
The atmosphere in the Flower Hall became slightly sentimental because of wangfei's light words.
Fan Xian's gaze flashed across the fragrance bag. He smiled and didn't say anything more.
…
After eating and chatting in the Great Prince's manor, it was already dusk. During this time, under the Great Prince's arrangements, Fan Xian and the Second Prince had another deep conversation in the study. However, the two of them in Baoyue Brothel had already talked deeply enough. Presently, the Second Prince had the Ye family and a Great Grandmaster behind him, so he would not retreat even half a step. Although Fan Xian knew that his situation was as the Second Prince had said, that he appeared to have as much power as a mountain, in reality, he was as precarious as a pile of eggs. However, he was in the world and had no choice. Even if he wanted to withdraw and retreat, it was impossible.
At least, the Qing Emperor would not allow it.
The Second Prince gave him one last deep glance and slowly said, "An Zhi, there is something I must remind you of. Without question, you are the biggest troublemaker in Qing Kingdom these two years. You know what happened back then. Why did father allow you to live and grow up in Danzhou and not simply clean up all the trouble?"
Fan Xian lowered his head slightly and thought that the Second Prince was indeed a powerful figure who was very good at persuading people. If one did not consider Uncle Wu Zhu's threat to the Emperor, the Qing Emperor's secret protection of his growth could only mean one thing. Although the Emperor was heartless, he would always have some pity for his children.
"Father would not allow us brothers to do anything too intense," the Second Prince looked at him and said quietly. The Second Prince looked at him and quietly said, "But for you, if the situation cannot be intensified, you can only sit and watch the water flow east. The situation is worsening day by day. This is where your problem lies."
Fan Xian smiled slightly and thought that the situation was about to intensify. If he wanted to protect everything he had, it would require other people to bear an unbearable price.
"Regardless of life and death," Fan Xian looked at the Second Prince and said seriously.
Regardless of life and death had two layers of meaning. One was that life and death had to be distinguished. The other was that it was only about fighting and did not involve each other's lives.
The Second Prince raised his hand and gave Fan Xian a light clap.
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In the afternoon, the Overwatch Council suddenly sent news saying that there were strange movements in Xi Lake. The military intelligence had already been sent to the Bureau of Military Affairs. The Palace summoned Fan Xian for an audience. As the Commander of the Imperial Army, the Great Prince had no choice but to leave. The Second Prince and Li Hongcheng could still stay in the manor.
Fan Xian had his wife and Ye Ling 'er talk a bit longer. He left the manor alone and sat in his own carriage. Without waiting for the Great Prince, he ordered the carriage to slowly move along the snow-covered streets of Jingdou.
The matter in Xi Lake was not urgent. It would take at least a month for news to travel between the two places. There was no need to rush into the Palace at this time. Fan Xian needed time to digest what he had encountered today.
The black carriage circled a few times on the streets of Jingdou and drove onto a relatively quiet street. Sitting in the driver's seat, Teng Zijing watched his surroundings cautiously. There were unremarkable secret agents in disguise around the front, back, left, and right of the carriage to ensure Fan Xian's safety.
Fan Xian closed his eyes and leaned against the back of the chair in the carriage. His face was slightly pale, and the corners of his lips were dry.
That faint scent of osmanthus … so that night's scent was the scent of osmanthus. He thought of that night, that temple, that field, and the belt he hadn't had time to tie properly. But, it was clearly Si Lili … it was Si Lili … only, that scent before he woke up, that pair of hands that had rubbed his temples?
His thin lips trembled a little. In a low voice, he quickly cursed a few profanities. Unconsciously, he slammed his palm against the board of the carriage beside him.
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With a loud bang, Fan Xian slammed his palm down heavily in a rage. The abundant Tyrannical zhenqi in his body surged out. Wherever the wind from his palm touched, it was unstoppable. In just an instant, the quiet street was filled with the sound of wood shattering.
The black carriage looked like it was made of paper. Half of it was destroyed by the blow. The wheels were broken, the carriage was overturned, and the horses were startled. Teng Zijing turned pale with fright and barely managed to stand his ground.
The dust gradually settled. Fan Xian, dressed in black official robes, stood absent-mindedly among the wood and gravel on the ground.
Beside him, Tiger Guard Gao Da's long knife was half-unsheathed. His eyes flashed wildly as he tried to find traces of the assassin. Seven or eight swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau were scattered around, gripping the metal drills at their waists tightly. The crossbows in their left hands were aimed at the outside.
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